British English versus American English

two major forms of English

Think about a few difference!

A:Where do you live?

B:We’ve got a small flat. It’s on the ground floor of a block of flats in the centre of town.

A:Have you got a garden?

B:No, we haven’t, just a car park at the back.

A:Where do you live?

B:We have a small apartment. It’s on the first floor of an apartment building downtown.

A:Do you have a yard?

B:No we don’t, just a parking lot in the back.

A:Where do you live?

B:We’ve got a small flat. It’s on the ground floor of a block of flats in the centre of town.

A:Have you got a garden?

B:No, we haven’t, just a car park at the back.

A:Where do you live?

B:We have a small apartment. It’s on the first floor of an apartment building downtown.

A:Do you have a yard?

B:No we don’t, just a parking lot in the back.

What’s the difference between British English (BrE)and North American English (NAmE)?

What did you think?

Pronunciation Vocabulary Spelling Grammar

Pronunciation

to be the first difference

Pronunciation

• Some special words.

• Stressed.

• Consonant /r/ after a vowel.

• The t between vowels.

Some special words

tomato /təˈmɑtːəʊ; NAmE təˈmeɪtoʊ/

vase /vɑzː; NAmE veɪs, veɪz/

garage /ˈɡærɪdʒ, ˈɡærɑʒː NAmE ɡəˈrɑʒː/

laboratory /ləˈbɒrətri NAmE ˈlæbrətɔrːi/

resource /rɪˈzɔsː, rɪˈsɔsː NAmE ˈrisːɔrːs/

…

When the American pronunciation is different from the British pronunciation it is given after the British pronunciation in the dictionary.

Stressed

• In packet, apple the /æ/ is longer in NAmE.

BrE NAmE

cafe cafe

rotate rotate

brochure brochure

perfume perfume

debris debris

beret beret

laboratory laboratory

… …

Stressed vowels are usually longer in American English.

Some words contain similar sounds, but the stress is different.

Consonant /r/

• car

• learn

• over

• teacher

• …

In British English the consonant /r/ is pronounced only before a vowel. In all other cases the /r/ is silent. In American English the /r/ is always pronounced.

The t between vowels.

• water

• tomato

• writer and rider

• …

In American English the t between vowels is pronounced as a soft /d/. British English speakers usually pronounced the t as /t/.

Vocabulary

relax with two mini-games…

Let’s play…

FilmShopWindscreenBiscuitHolidayMobile phoneRubbish

MovieStoreWindshieldCookieVacationCell phoneGarbage

Windshield Shop Movie Biscuit

Vacation Mobile phone Garbage

Select a number!

12

3 45

67 8

12

3 45

67 8

Spelling

easy to find out

Spelling

BrE NAmE

cancelling, signalling canceling, signaling

centre, litre center, liter

colour, favour color, favor

dialogue, catalogue dialog, catalog

realize, realise realize

offence, defence offense, defense

Grammar

The most different part

Grammar

• Present perfect/Simple past

• Have/have got

• Got/gotten

• Prepositions and adverbs

• Shall

• Irregular verbs

• Go/Come and…

• On the telephone

Present perfect/Simple past• I have already given her the present. (BrE)• I already gave her the present. (NAmE)• I’ve just seen her. (BrE)• I just saw her. (NAmE)• Have you heard the news yet? (BrE)• Did you hear the news yet? (NAmE)

Grammar

Have/have got• They have/have got two computers. (BrE and NAmE)• Have you got a computer? Yes, I have. (BrE)• Do you have a computer? Yes, I do. (BrE and NAmE)

Got/gottenYour English has got better. (BrE) Your English has gotten better. (NAmE)

Prepositions and adverbsstay at home (BrE) stay home (NAmE).

Form of the adverbHe looked at me really strangely. (BrE) He looked at me really strange. (NAmE)

Grammar

ShallI shall/will be here tomorrow. (BrE) I will be here tomorrow. (NAmE)

Shall I open the window? (BrE) Should I open the window? (NAmE)Irregular verbsThey burned/burnt the documents. (BrE) They burned the documents. (NAmE)

a spoilt child (BrE) a spoiled child (NAmE)burnt toast (BrE and NAmE)

Go/Come and…Go and take a look outside. (BrE) Go take a look outside. (NAmE)

On the telephoneHello, is that David? (BrE) Hello, is this David? (NAmE)

Grammar

MiscellaneousBritish speakers (BrE) American speaker (NAmE)

They usually say:Have a shower, have a holiday, have a break, …

They say:Take a shower, take a vacation, take a break, …

They use can’t to say they believe something is not probable:Sue hasn’t contacted me. She can’t have got my message.

They use must not in this situation:Sue hasn’t contacted me. She must not have gotten my message.

You can use needn’t or don’t need to. Needn't is unusual. The usual form is don’t need to.

Nouns like government/team/family etc. can have a singular or plural verb.

These nouns normally take a singular verb in American English.

At the weekend / at weekends. On the weekend / on weekends.

… …

This table refer to “English Grammar In Use” 2nd Edition, Murphy, Cambridge University press

?But wait…There’s More!

The last game!

The last game!

biscuitsfilmfootballlorrymaizepetrolrubbersweetstrousersundergroundwardrobezip

2

1

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S U B A

P A N S

Y

C

T

W

R N

S O C

O

E R

C

C

O K I E S

T R

O

C K

C A

U

D I E S

C L O S E

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M O V

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R A S E R

F R

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____________ – one language

And the last is the keyword!

Two countries

Before the end!

What is this?

Autumn Fall

This is a season of a year.When leaves change color and the weather becomes cooler.

It between summer and winter.

What is this?

Football Soccer

This is a sport.Which played by two teams of 11 player.

Who try to kick a round ball into the other team’s goal

What is this?

Lift Elevator

This is a machine.Which takes people and goods from one level to

another in a building

What is this?

Sweet Candy

A sweet food made from sugar or chocolate.

What is this?

Underground Subway

A railway system.Which runs under the ground below a big city

What is this?

Lorry Truck

A large road vehicle.Which used to carry goods.

What is this?

Purse Handbag

A bag.In which a woman carries her money and personal

things.

What is this?

Trousers Pants

A piece of clothing.Which covers you from your waist to your feet.

With a separate part fitting over each leg.